Couple’s Inspiring Video on Overcoming Infertility, Fighting Cancer Wins Educational Grant
The Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. Annual Heart to Heart Video Contest Encourages Sharing of Hope
PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced Katie and Jake Barber of Waterford, Mich. as the winners of its annual Heart to Heart Video Contest. The Barber family received the highest number of votes in the contest’s history. For more than a decade, the company has been providing parents who struggled with infertility the opportunity to win up to $10,000 toward their child’s education by sharing their stories to encourage hope and positivity.
The winning video details the Barber family’s path to parenthood, which included diagnoses of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and melanoma. Through these diseases, the couple recounts how they did not give up on their dream of becoming parents. After three failed rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI), several rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and two miscarriages, they ultimately became pregnant and welcomed their daughter, Mia, into the world in April 2015. The Barbers were eager to share their story and entered the Heart to Heart Video Contest to give a message of hope to others facing the diagnosis of infertility.
“Despite the many challenges we faced, the whole journey was worth it since it brought us our sweet daughter, Mia,” said Katie Barber, who was a patient at Michigan Reproductive Medicine. “Infertility is a tough challenge to face, especially during the hard times when you feel so alone. We hope that by sharing our story we can give a message of hope to others who are experiencing some of the same things we did.”
Individuals across the U.S. who faced infertility were invited to submit a video to the Heart to Heart Video Contest in line with the contest theme, “Have Heart, Share Hope.” A panel of judges then selected five videos as the finalists, which were shared during an online voting period allowing the public to vote for their favorite video. This year’s contest received strong participation, which led to the Barbers being named winners. As a result, the Barbers will receive $10,000 to be used toward the education of their daughter, Mia. The four runners up, also chosen by the voters, will each receive $4,000 toward their children’s education. To learn more about the Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. Heart to Heart Video Contest or view the Barber family’s story, visit www.hearttoheartcontest.com.
“Infertility affects up to 15 percent of reproductive-aged couples worldwide. By generating awareness of the disease and encouraging conversation through the contest, we hope to encourage more open and honest discussions on fertility issues,” noted Nick Hart, Business Unit Head for U.S. Reproductive Health for Ferring. “We’re grateful to Katie and Jake for sharing their story and know that it can make a real difference in inspiring hope in others.”
About Ferring’s Commitment to Patient Support
The Heart to Heart Video Contest is one of several Ferring initiatives that provides support to patients facing infertility. Ferring also supports patients who have received a cancer diagnosis with fertility preservation services through its HeartBeat Program. For more information on Ferring’s patient programs, visit www.ferringfertility.com.
About Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a subsidiary of Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a privately owned, international pharmaceutical company. Ferring Pharmaceuticals specializes in the research, development and commercialization of compounds in general and pediatric endocrinology, gastroenterology, infertility, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopaedics, and urology. For more information, call 1-888-FERRING (1-888-337-7464); visit www.FerringUSA.com.